Portable ventilator



Jan. 7, 1941. B. A. BENSON PORTABLE VENTILATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Filed June 30, 1958 BY: Eerrzkari' Qfiemsom ATTORNEY5.

Jan. 7, 1941. B. A. BENSON PORTABLE VENTILATOR Filed June 30, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY5.

\nvllllll C n Jan. 7, 1941- B A BEN 2,228,224

PORTABLE VENTILATOR Filed June 30, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 J50 INVENTOR.

fer/Mari afierwam @b- 2! ATTORNE Ygi Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,228,224 7 PORTABLE vnuma'ron Application June 30, 1938, Serial No. 216,651

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a ventilator of the type employing an electric fan, and more particularly to a portable, window ventilator of said type.

It is an object of applicant's invention to provide a compact and efficient fan ventilator which is of simple construction from the manufacturing standpoint, and, although inexpensive, is yet rugged and pleasing in appearance.

Another object of the invention is the provision of inexpensive and eflicient means operating the ventilator while simultaneously controlling the electric fan.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a portable fan ventilator in which the shutter blades or slats are positively held against vibration in both their open and closed positions.

Applicant's invention further contemplates the provision of an adjustable fan ventilator of such construction that the maximum number of parts thereof may be inexpensively produced from sheet metal by stamping or pressing operations and wherein, notwithstanding the sheet metal construction, vibration is effectively prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable, window ventilator which is adjustable for difl'erent sizes of openings and, when adjusted, cooperates with the window sash and/or frame to completely close and render weatherproof the window opening in which it is installed.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing the ventilator secured in operative position in a window opening. v

Fig, 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the adjustable parts of the ventilator frame.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fi 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end view in perspective of one of the slats.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are vertical sections similar to Fig, 5 but showing the several elements in different positions of operation.

Fig. 12 is a. fragmentary, vertical section along the line i2--l2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is an exploded view in perspective of 5 the fan control switch.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the ventilator of the present invention comprises a sheet metal frame 2 which includes a main body portion 4 and adjustable end wings 6. The main body 10 portion 4 is provided at its upper and lower edges with inwardly turned and inclined flanges 8 extending from end to end thereof. Each adjustable wing is provided along its upper and lower edges with rearwardly extending, horizon- 15 tal flange portions l0 and integral, inclined flange portions l2 extending inwardly from the flange portions Ill. The attaching lugs l4 are formed integrally with the side wings 6 and extend rearwardly from the outer side edges of the wings 6. The wings 6 are adjustably mounted at opposite ends of the main body portion 4 with their horizontal flange portions ID in slidable engagement with the opposed edges of the main body portion and with their inclined flange portions l2 in slidable engagement with the inclined flanges 8 of the main body portion.

Vibration-preventing means, such as wing screws l6 received in spaced openings I8 in the main body portion 4', look the wings in adjusted positions relative to the main body portion. The openings l8 may be threaded to receive the screws H5 or nuts 20 at the openings I8 may be welded or otherwise secured to the main body portion 4 to receive the screws I6.

The frame 2 may be securedpreferably in the upper portion of the window opening in which is normally received the upper window sash-by means of suitable screws, bolts or the like 22 passing through the attaching lugs I4 into the window frame. I

The main body portion 4 of the frame 2 is provided. with a preferably circular ventilator opening 24 adapted to be opened and closed by a shutter or closure means 26 and to have air circulated therethrough by means of an electric fan 28.

The shutter 26 preferably comprises sheet metal angle irons or supports 30 riveted or otherwise secured to the main body portion 4 to extend in a vertical direction on opposite sides of the opening 24. Blades, vanes, or slats 32, preferably of sheet metal, are each formed along their upper edges with substantially semicircular ribs or ridges 34 which extend beyond its side edges to form pivots received in suitable openings 38 in the supports 30.

Each slat is formed at its upper edge with a laterally directed flange, lug. or finger 38 operatively received between the spaced fingers 40 and 42 of a slide bar 44. As shown in Fig. 5, the lug 38 of the lower slat 32 extends rearwardly or laterally from the main portion of the slat at an angle which is less than the angle between the lug 38 and the main portion of each slat thereabove so that when the operating slide bar 44 is in its upper position the lower edge of the lower slat 32 will firmly engage the front face of the main body portion 4 of the frame 2 and the lower edges of each upper slat will firmly engage the longitudinally extending rib or ridge 34 of the next lower slat. v

The slide bar 44 forms part of a shutter operating and fan controlling mechanism 46. This mechanism is preferably mounted within a sheet metal housing formed by a sheet metal angle iron or bracket 48 welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the main body portion 4 of the frame 2 adjacent the ventilating opening 24 and a two- 'sided sheet metal cover 50 having flanges 52 and 54 forming the top and bottom walls of the housing. The cover 50 may be secured to the main'body portion 4 of the frame 2 as by means of bolts 56 passing through the frame and through flanges 58 formed integrally with the flanges 52 and 54.

The slide bar 44 of the operating mechanism 46 is slidably mounted within the housing for vertical reciprocating movement by means of pins or bolts 60 secured to the bracket 58 and spacers 62 carried by said pins or bolts 60, the pins 60 passing through arcuate slots 64 in the slide bar 44. The spacers 62 may of course be formed integrally with the pins or bolts 60.

The fingers 40 and 42 are formed with alined, knife-like edges 66 engaging the lug 38 and defining oppositely inclined surfaces of substantial extent, which surfaces engage the opposed faces of the lug 38 when the slat is in its open position or its closed position so as to prevent movement or vibration of the slat relative to the operating fingers 40 and 42 when the shutter is in either of its adjusted positions. Each pair of operating fingers 40 and 42 is received in the passes through a slot 68 in the frame 2.

A coil spring I0, secured at one end to 9. lug I2 struck from the frame 2 and its other end to the lower edge of the slide bar 44, provides means for returning the slide bar 44 to its upper position and for applying to the blades or slats of the shutter a vibration-preventing force,

- which, when the blades or slats are in closed position, causes the lower blade or slat to resiliently and firmly press at its lower edge against the frame and each upper slat to resiliently and firmly press against the next lower slat.

A cover I4 for the upper edge of the shutter preferably comprises a Z-bar of sheet metal secured by a bolt I6 extending through one of its flanges to the body portion 4 of the frame 2 and having its depending flange I8 resiliently and firmly engaging the rib or ridge 34 of the upper slat 32. The cover 14 extends between the supports 30 and therefore acts to completely close the upper edge of the shutter.

By reason of the pressure engagement between the cover flange I8 and the upper slat 32; between each of the upper slats 32; and between the lower slat 32 and the frame, the ventilating opening 24 is completely sealed by the shutter and vibration of the element effectively prevented.

The slide bar or operating member 44 is moved to its lower position causing opening of the "shutter by means of a lever pivoted at one end 'as at 82 to the bracket 48 and extending outwardly of the housing through an elongated slot 84 in the cover 50. The pull cord, chain or the like 86 (Fig. 2) depends from the free end of the lever 80 to provide means for manually manipulating said lever. A'coil spring 88, secured at one end to a lug 80 struck from or formed on the bracket 48 and at its other end to the lever 80, normally urges and maintains the lever 80 in its raised position at the upper end of the slot 84.

A link 92, maintained by gravity in a vertical position, is pivotally connected as at 94 above the pivot 82. The link 82 is provided, adjacent its lower end, with a laterally extending pin 96 received in a slot or groove 38 in the slide bar 44. The slot or groove 98 is formed to provide an opening I00 extending forwardly from the normal position of the pin 96, as seen in Fig. 5, and

an opening I02 extending first rearwardly' and then downwardly with respect to the normal position of the pin 36.

A weighted link I04, pivoted to thevslide bar 44 adjacent the slot 98, is maintained by the action of gravity in a position normally closing the opening I02 against the entrance of the pin 96 so that the pin 96 will engage the rear lower corner of the opening I00 and move the slide bar 44 downwardly as the lever 80 is rotated about its pivot 82. A latch or catch I06 is pivoted to the bracket 48 as at I08 and is provided at its lower end with a latch face or finger H0 and at its upper edge above the pivot I08 with a cam surface II2.

A resilient strip or spring II4, secured to the base flange of the bracket 48, engages the latch I06 adjacent its lower edge so as to normally urge the same in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 5, 9, l0 and 11. A pin II6 secured to, and extending laterally with respect to, the slide bar 44, engages the latch face or finger IIO when the slide bar 44 has been moved to its lower position, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

A switch unit I I8 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the bracket 48 and is controlled by the movements of the slide bar 44. This switch unit preferably comprises a pair of insulating strips or plates I20 between which is clamped a pair of terminal members I22 having contact buttons I24 projected through openings I26 in the outer strip I20. Bolts I28 passing through the insulating strips I20 secure the switch unit to the bracket 48. A movable switch member I30, having opposed contact engaging projections I32, is carried by an insulating block I34 mounted on the laterally extending lug I36 of the movable switch member I30. The insulating block I34 receives in a slot I38 the laterally bent end I40 of a switch operating strip or bar I42. The strip or bar I42 is slidably received in spaced insulating guide pieces or blocks I44 mounted in slots I46 in the outer insulating strip I20 and having their inner ends bent over into clamping. engagement between this outer insulating strip I20 and the inner insulating strip I20. A coil spring I48 encircles the lower portion of the strip or bar I42 and is interposed between the lowermost guide piece or block I44 and the pin I50 carried at the lower end of the strip or bar I42 so as to normally urge this bar in a downward direction whereby the movable switch member I30 engages, and completes a circuit between, the fixed contacts I24.

The switch unit H9 controls the energization and de-energization of a motor I52 forming a part of the electric fan 29, the shaft of which is concentric with the ventilating opening 24. The motor I52 is mounted on the frame 2 by means of crossed bars I54 secured at their opposite ends to the main body portion 4 of the frame 2 as by bolts or the like I56. Atleast one of the crossed bars I54 is offset centrally as at I58 to form a bearing support for the extending end of the motor shaft upon which are mounted the fan blades I60.

The movable switch member I30 is moved out of contacting engagement with the contacts .I24 to break the motor circuit by means of a laterally bent lug I62 formed at the lower edge of the slide bar 44, which, as the bar 44 moves upwardly, engages the strip or bar I42 and moves it upwardly against the action of the spring I46.

The operation of the shutter operating, and fan controlling, mechanism 46 is substantially as follows: The unoperated position of the parts is as shown in Fig. 5, in which position the spring I0, acting through the slide bar 44, maintains the shutter blades or slats in tightly closed position sealing the ventilating opening 24.

As the lever 80 is moved downwardly about its pivot 82 in response to the manipulation of the cord 86, the pin 96, carried by the freely hanging link 92, is directed by the weighted link I04 into engagement with the rear lower corner of the I opening I00. Continued downward movement of the lever 80 causes the pin 96 to move downwardly, thereby forcing the slide bar 44 downwardly against the action of the spring 10 and this slide bar, through its spaced pairs of operating fingers 40 and 42, causes the shutter blades or slats 32 to be moved into open position, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

As the slide bar 44 moves downwardly, the pin 96 moves forwardly along the bottom wall of the opening I so as to clear the forward edge of the latch or catch I06. When the bar 44 reaches its lowermost position, the pin I I6 becomes alined with the latch face or finger I I0 and a spring I I4 rotates the catch or latch I 06 clockwise, as seen in Figs. and 9 to 11, thereby causing the latch face or finger to engage the upper portion of the pin H6 and prevent upward movement of the slide bar 44 under the action of the spring 10. As the latch bar 44 descends, its lug I62 moves out of contact with the strip or bar I42 and permits this bar to move downwardly under the action of the spring I48 and move the switch member I30 into engagement with the contacts I24, thereby completing the circuit to the fan motor I52. Consequently rotation of the fan blades is initiated simultaneously with the movement of the slats 32 into open position. No reverse flow of air, carrying dust or other foreign matter, can therefore occur, for there is no time interval or lag between the opening of the shutter and the operation of the fan.

After the bar 44 has been moved to, and latched in, its lower position, the spring 68 returns the lever 80 and the freely hanging link 90 to an upper position as shown in Fig. 10, the pin 96 moving to this normal position along the forward part of the opening I 00 in advance of the forward edge of the catch I06 and along the upper portion of the opening-so that when the link 92 reaches this position the pin 96 overlies the cam surface H2" of the catch I06.

In order to close the shutter 26 and deenergize the fan 20, the lever 00 is again moved downwardly about its pivot 82 by manipulation of the cord 86. The pin 96, carried by the freely hanging link 92, now moves rearwardly and downwardly along the cam surface II2 of catch I06 which is now effectively held against rotation by the spring H4. The pin 96, in moving downwardly along this cam surface, forces the weighted link I04 counterclockwise to uncover the opening I02 and as the pin reaches the bottom of the cam surface I I 2 it becomes trapped between said surface and the rear edge of the opening I02. Further downward movement of the pin 96, caused by the continued downward movement of the lever 80, in turn causes rotation of the catch I06 in a counterclockwise direction against the force of the spring H4 and releases the pin Hi from the latch face or finger IIO.

As soon as the pin H6 is released from the catch I 06, the spring 10 quickly snaps the slide bar 44 to its upper position, thereby closing the shutter 26 and simultaneously through the lug I62 and the switch operating strip or bar I42, moving the switch member I30 out of engagement with its contacts I24 to break the circuit to the fan motor I52. The opening I02 is of a sufiiclent' extent in the vertical direction so that even if the lever 80 is held in its lowermost position after the catch I 06 has been released, the slide bar 44 will be returned to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that applicant has provided a compact and efiilcient portable fan ventilator which is of inexpen sive yet rugged construction, and which is adjustable for different sizes of openings and when adjusted cooperates with the window sash and/or frame to completely close and render weatherproof the window opening in which it is installed.

Changes may be made in the form, construc-' tion and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of' its attendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame, a shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted on said supporting frame, a reciprocable member carried by said supporting frame, means connecting the several slats to the reciprocable member whereby upon reciprocation of said member, said shutter is opened and closed, resilient means for moving said reciprocable member in one direction, means for latching said member against movement by said resilient means, manually operable operating means, and means connecting'said operating means to said latching means when the reciprocable member is at one limit of its movement for releasing said latching means and connecting said operating means to the reciprocable member when said reciprocable member is at its other limit of movement for moving said member in the opposite direction.

2; A ventilator comprising a supporting frame,

a shutter-having a plurality of slats pivoted on said supporting frame, a reciprocable member able means carried by the supporting frame for latching said member against movement under the action of said resilient means, an operating lever, connecting means carried by said operating lever and adapted to engage said latching means for releasing said latching means and adapted to engage said reciprocable member for moving said reciprocable member from said second position to said first position, and means directing the connecting means into engagement with the latching means when the reciprocable member is in the first position and directing the connecting means into engagement with the reciprocable member when said reciprocable member is in the second position.

3. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame, a shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted on said supporting frame, a reciprocable member carried by said supporting frame, means connecting the several slats to the reciprocable member whereby upon reciprocation .of said member said shutter is opened and closed, resilient means for moving said reciprocable member from a first position to a second position, means for latching said member against movement under the action of said resilient means, and operating means for releasing said latching means when said reciprocable member is in said first position and for moving said reciprocable member from said second position to said first position, said operating means comprising lever means, means for causing said lever means to be operatively connected to said latching means when said reciprocable member is in said first position, and means for causing said lever means to be operatively connected to said reciprocable member when said member is in said second position.

4. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame, a shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted .on

carried by said supporting frame, means connecting the several slats to the reciprocable member whereby upon reciprocation of said member said shutter is opened and closed, resilient means for moving said reciprocable member from a first position to a second position, means for latching said member against movement under the action of said resilient means, and operating means for releasing said latching means when said reciprocable member is in said first position and for moving said reciprocable member from said second position to said first position, said operating means comprising a lever pivoted on a fixed axis, a freely hanging link pivotally connected to said lever for bodily movement with said lever, a pin carried at the free end of said link, said reciprocable member having intercommunicating openings extending transversely with respect to each other, said latching means having a portion thereof disposed in the position in transverse alinement with one of said openings when said reciprocable member is in said first position so as to be engaged by said pin when the pin is moved along thesaid one opening, said pin being engageable with the wall of the other opening when said reciprocable member is in said second position, and means for directing said pin into the one or other of said openings in accordance with the position of said reciprocable member.

5. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame, a shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted on said supporting frame, a reciprocable member carried by said supporting frame, means connecting the several slats to the reciprocable member whereby upon reciprocation of said member said shutter is opened and closed, resilient means for moving said reciprocable member from a first position to a second position, means for latching said member against movement under the action of said resilient means, and operating means for releasing said latching means when said reciprocable member is in said first position and for moving said reciprocable member from said second position to said first position, said operating means comprising a lever pivoted on a fixed axis, a freely hanging link pivotally connected to said lever for bodily movement with said lever, a pin carried at the free end of said link, said reciprocable member having intercommunicating openings extending transversely with respect to each other, said latching means having a portion thereof disposed in a position in transverse alinement with one of said openings when said reciprocable member is in said first position so as to be engaged by said pin when the pin is moved along the said one opening, said pin being engageable with a wall of the other opening when said reciprocable member is in said second position, said latching means also having an additional portion extending into the said other opening for directing the pin into said one opening when said reciprocable member is in said first position, and means closing the said one opening when said member is in its second position for directing said pin into said other opening.

6. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame, a shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted on said supporting frame, each slat having a lug extending reversely from an edge thereof, a reciprocable member carried by said supporting frame and having spaced pairs of laterally extending slotted members of which each pair coming the several slats to the reciprocable member whereby upon reciprocation of said member, said shutter is opened and closed, resilient means for moving said reciprocable member from a first position to a second position, means for latching said member against movement by said resilient means and manually operable mechanism including means engaging said latching means when said reciprocable member is in said first position to release said latching means and engaging said reciprocable member when said member is in said second position to move said member to the first position.

8. A ventilator comprising a supporting frame having an opening therein, an electric fan carried by said frame for circulating air through said opening, a shutter for said opening, said shutter having a plurality of slats pivoted to the supporting frame, each slat having a lug extending reversely from an edge thereof, a reciprocable member carried by said supporting frame and having a plurality of pairs of spaced fingers for receiving means for operatively connecting said manually operable member, to said reciprocable member when said reciprocable member is in said second position to move said reciprocable member to said first position, and switch means responsive to the snapping of said reciprocable member to the second position for de-energizing said fan upon the closing of said shutter and actuated by the reciprocable member in moving to the first position to energize said fan upon the opening 10 or the shutter.

BERNHART A. BENSON. 

